This past month, in Charlottesville, Virginia, the world was witness to something I never thought I'd see in my lifetime: white supremacist anti-Semites uttered words, and undertook actions we thought humanity had left behind seventy years ago: torchlight parades; swastikas on display; chants of "blood and soil," and "Jews will not replace us."

It was a time-warp--as if World War II and the Holocaust had never happened.  Sometimes, we flatter ourselves here in Canada.  We think this is only an American problem.  However, the truth is, the haters are here too--and they live hidden among us. 

Any hatred that leads to violence is always, ultimately the same hatred; and the violence is always, ultimately, the same violence.

One of the great spiritual teachers of the generation, Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach, put it like this: "If God had given me two hearts, I could use one for hate, and the other for love.  But since I was given only one heart, I only have room for love." 

Ladies and gentlemen--let us resolve to use the one heart God gave us, in the way it was originally intended--"to love our fellow human being as we love ourselves."  Thank you.

This past month, in Charlottesville, Virginia, the world was witness to something I never thought I'd see in my lifetime: white supremacist anti-Semites uttered words, and undertook actions we thought humanity had left behind seventy years ago: torchlight parades; swastikas on display; chants of "blood and soil," and "Jews will not replace us."

It was a time-warp--as if World War II and the Holocaust had never happened.  Sometimes, we flatter ourselves here in Canada.  We think this is only an American problem.  However, the truth is, the haters are here too--and they live hidden among us. 

Any hatred that leads to violence is always, ultimately the same hatred; and the violence is always, ultimately, the same violence.

One of the great spiritual teachers of the generation, Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach, put it like this: "If God had given me two hearts, I could use one for hate, and the other for love.  But since I was given only one heart, I only have room for love." 

Ladies and gentlemen--let us resolve to use the one heart God gave us, in the way it was originally intended--"to love our fellow human being as we love ourselves."  Thank you.